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President Mugabe, who was leaving for Singapore, bids farewell to Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Retired Colonel Christian Katsande, while Presidential spokesman Mr George Charamba, director of Protocol Ruth Chikwira and principal director in the Ministry of Information Mr Regis Chikowore look on at the Harare International Airport yesterday. —

Senior Reporter
President Mugabe left the country yesterday for Singapore for a procedural eye cataract operation. The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces left soon after he officially opened a Cabinet session. He was seen off at Harare International Airport by Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colonel (Retired) Christian Katsande, senior Government officials and service chiefs.

Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba told The Herald that the President was going for a second operation, this one to his left eye, which was procedural. “You do not do both operations once. He was done the right eye and now he is going for the second one.
“This was a date set well before last year which the President has to honour.”

Mr Charamba said the President would be back in the country at the weekend, “well in time for the 21st February Movement celebrations scheduled for Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera next Sunday”.

Vice President Joice Mujuru is the Acting President.
The 21st February Movement celebrates President Mugabe’s birthday and will this year be held under the theme “Zim-Asset — Growing the Economy for Youths Empowerment and Employment”.
President Mugabe turns 90.

The 21st February Movement was established in 1986, to encourage youths to emulate the self-less character and leadership qualities of President Mugabe.

It is a day of retrospection and symmetrical recognition of the well-documented life of President Mugabe, born on the day in 1924.